This is part 2 of my conversation with Gary Bembridge. Listen to part 1 in which we discuss unusual cruise experiences.
Today, I change up the show a little to bring on Gary Bembridge and pick his brain on what travel bloggers can do to create a better resource for their readers. We also discuss the future of travel media and whether a podcast or web video series might be a better choice of format for tomorrow’s audiences.
Gary has been traveling every month of every year for the past 20+ years.
It used to be as a business traveler, doing global marketing. Nowadays, he’s a independent consultant. For the past 9 years, he’s been running tipsfortravelers.com, a website and podcast to share his best advice from his travels. The man is an expert on cruises, and he’s the author of The Cruise Traveler’s Handbook, which provides advice & tips on finding and having unforgettable cruise vacations. And a couple years ago, he launched the better bloggers podcast at travelbloggerspodcast.com, to share his best tips to help travel bloggers do what it is they do even better.
Gary knows his stuff because he speaks from experience. So, for anyone who’s a travel blogger and wants to find out how to be a better resource, and partner with brands as he has with much success, you might want to be sure to hear what Gary has to say.
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What We Discuss
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The differences between blogging and podcasting is defined by the different consumption habits of the audience, which defines the style of traveler that your respective audience might be. How does your audience consume your content and what does that say about them? What is possible with an audience like that?
- Rather than writing about the story of your own travels, instead focus on how your experiences can inspire, or help, or serve your audience.
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The day of the “general” travel blogger is gone. Travel blogs need to be targeted and focused on a specific niche because competition is too high otherwise.
- We discuss whether short form, audio and visual content, is the future over the written word and whether or not starting a podcast might better serve tomorrow’s audience.
- The future of travel blogging might be to help traveler’s reduce their risk by giving them more visual content so they know what to expect and trust your input.
- Competition is lower in podcasting than blogging, and so the ability to stand out is far easier. As a result, in travel, brands are reaching out more now to podcasting than ever before.
- “I probably get approached more now than I pitch [to brands],” says Gary.
Words from an Explorer
“I always felt I was missing out on something and always the best thing is the thing you didn’t expect to experience.”
Gary’s Best Travel Advice
- The First Step: Get your passport and just do it. It’s that simple.
- Money Saving Tip or Travel Hack: Frequent Flyer Miles. Get the guide on our homepage!
- Pack Better: Always assume you can pick up what you need where you go.
- Favorite Internet Travel Tool: Google Maps
- Favorite Travel Book: Gary did not have one, so we plugged his book, The Cruise Traveler’s Handbook (Traveler’s Handbooks)
- Weirdest Food: Fried, dried crickets in Zimbabwe
Credits
- Music: Aaron Static – Intrepid Journey
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See you next time!
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